The Google Nexus 4 is easily the best since the original, but this one does come with some compromise​

There's something about taking a Nexus phone out of the box that still gives goosebumps. Even now, with the LG Nexus 4 -- a phone that leaked every which way to Sunday before finally being announced, sans Google event, thanks to Hurricane Sandy -- hands tremble a little bit. This time around, however, those tremors are from a sense of unease as much as they are from excitement.

After two generations of Samsung devices, Google's Nexus phone line shifts to LG. Worldwide standing aside -- and make no mistake, there's a big world out there, and a lot of it owns LG hardware -- it's not a company with much cachet here in the States.

Add to that the preconceived hangups folks have about some of the Nexus 4's specs, and we're in for a drama-filled start for the fourth iteration of Google's premier smartphone.

This is going to be fun. Strap in, everybody. It's time for the full Android Central review of the Google Nexus 4 by LG.

Today Bell announced a handful of new unlimited talk and text plans for Canadians. Surprise! They're pretty much identical to the ones we've seen from Rogers, which have coincidentally also gone public today. Here's what you get on Bell starting November 9.

Is it just me, or is there a shocking lack of honest competition between the big carriers in Canada? Now we just have to wait to see if TELUS will follow suit. Update: Aaaaand there it is. Slightly different mix. Includes caller ID, voicemail, and unlimited family calling on all three, but you pay five bucks more.

HTC Sense 4+ video walkthrough

The HTC One X+ has just launched in Europe, and it comes pre-loaded with the latest version of HTC's Android UX, dubbed Sense 4+. It's a minor revision to Sense 4, with a handful of new features stacked atop a familiar UI. The biggest change is the bump up to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, bringing improved performance through Project Butter, and the new Google Search app with Google Now.

In addition, there's a new Sense gallery app, incorporating content from Facebook, Picasa, Dropbox and other sources, as well as a redesigned version of HTC Watch. The Sense camera app has also grown a couple of useful new abilities -- there's a countdown timer for the front-facing camera, as well as "sightseeing mode," which lets you lock and unlock directly into the camera app, bypassing the lock screen.

AT&T fined $700,000 by FCC for overcharging PAYG customers

Back in 2009, AT&T started shifting pay-as-you-go data subscribers to full monthly customers, despite promises that they would be able to grandfather their old plans in. This meant that customers would end up paying $25 - $30/month more than they used to, but thanks to a tidal wave of customer complaints and the intervention of th FCC, not only are those customers getting refunds, but AT&T is coughing up a $700,000 fine. The FCC chairman Julius Genachowski commented on the resolution:

"Today’s action sends a clear signal that wireless carriers can’t wrongfully charge consumers. These strong FCC accountability measures will ensure customers are not over-charged. I am pleased that AT&T is taking the appropriate steps to resolve this issue."

FCC Enforcement Bureay chief Michele Ellison also chimed in.

"This Consent Decree puts precious dollars back in the pockets of consumers—where they belong. We strongly encourage AT&T subscribers to check their bills closely and contact the company if they spot any overcharges related to wireless data."

That's some tall talk, and AT&T is understandably on the defensive. They say that fewer than 0.03% of their customers had been affected, and that the vast majority of them have already been refunded.

Was anyone affected by this transition years ago? Experience any other similar forced transitions with other carriers?

T-Mobile finally gets black HTC One S

Gray got you down? Been pining for a black, MAO-clad version of the HTC One S for T-Mobile U.S.? Your wish has been granted, as you can now snag a "ceramic black" version of HTC's slimmest and sexiest phone of 2012. It's free on contract (after a $50 mail-in rebate), and you'll have the the same version the rest of the world has been able to enjoy for months. The phone's exactly like the original -- same 4.3-inchSuper AMOLED touchscreen and qHD resolution. Same 1GB of RAM and 8MP camera. And (sigh) same Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, though HTC has said the international One S will get Jelly Bean soonish, and we expect T-Mobile to follow suit.

The black One S on T-Mobile is only available online, so hit the link below, and grab your credit card.

Android smartphone adoption rate reaches six times iPhone

Mary Meeker, an investment partner at KPCB, has given a preview of her annual Internet Trends report recently, and is showing that the growth in Android smartphones is six times that of iPhone. This certainly lines up with data we've seen from IDC lately.

She's using data from Gartner and Morgan Stanley to put together that figure, which is a sharp step up from the four times growth Android handsets were enjoying as of her last report in the spring. The research showed that by the end of the year there will be 1 billion smartphone users worldwide, but 5 billion mobile users total, meaning there's still a lot of folks that are due for an upgrade. It's also worth noting that the number of internet-connected Android devices surpassed the number of internet-connected Windows devices shipped in Q1 2012. Meeker estimates that by the end of 2013, 160 million Android devices, 80 million Windows devices, and 100 million iOS devices will be shipped every quarter. That certainly puts things into perspective. As great as Android is doing, iOS is still no slouch. iPad adoption is way higher than iPhone (five times faster compared to three times faster in the spring), and it's probably safe to assume that number will rise once the figures from the iPad 4 and iPad mini are factored in.

Do these findings jibe with what you see on a day-to-day basis? Is Android really taking over as aggressively as the numbers suggest? Is it fair to pile on multiple mobile manufacturers against Apple alone in side-by-side comparisons like this? Are there really that many people still using dumbphones in the world?

The case for an on-contract T-Mobile Nexus 4

The Nexus 4 was announced to much fanfare last week, especially when the prices hit. $299 for 8GB? That’s less than half what a high end smartphone will cost you off contract nowadays. Buying from the Play Store at these prices is a no-brainer for many of us.

After the dust settled, we started to get more information about the pricing and availability of the Nexus 4 outside of the Play Store. Here in the states, your only option to pick up the device with a carrier attachment is on T-Mobile. As we’ve learned since the announcement, T-Mobile will be charging $199 (after $50 mail-in rebate) on a Classic Plan with a 2-year commitment for the 16GB Nexus 4.

Now some quick math will make you realize that this may not be the best deal in the world. At $199, you’re signing a 2-year contract to save $150 off of what Google is charging directly. As we’ve highlighted several times before on the site, there are a multitude of reasons to consider buying a device full price and choosing a cheaper plan without a subsidy. T-Mobile itself even offers Value Plans, which are in every way identical to Classic Plans but are cheaper every month because they offer no device subsidy -- not to mention the multitude of Prepaid options it offers.

So why do I think it’s a good idea that T-Mobile is offering the Nexus 4 on contract for an inflated price? There are actually a few good reasons.

Carphone Warehouse cuts 32GB Nexus 7, Galaxy Tab 2 prices

UK retailer Carphone Warehouse has announced several tablet price cuts today, including two leading budget Android tablets, the Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. ASUS and Google's newly-launched 32GB Nexus tablet goes on sale from today at £189, £10 cheaper than most retailers, including the UK Google Play Store. Similarly, the Wifi-only, 8GB 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 will go on sale at Carphone Warehouse for £149. That'll get you a dual-core, ICS-based tablet which also boasts a rear camera, unlike the Nexus

In addition, Apple's short-lived third-gen iPad has been cut by £40 to £359. The new Tab 2 prices are live on Carphone's site right now, though both Nexus 7 and iPad remain at their previous price points for the moment.

Carphone Warehouse offers these price reductions as part of its push to "offer the lowest prices on tablets on the high street." With the holidays looming, we're sure to see more competitive deals emerge online and in brick-and-mortar retailers in the weeks ahead.

Sony Xperia T/TX update adds Miracast streaming and more

Sony Mobile sends word that a new software update is now pushing out for its leading European and Asian handsets, the Xperia T and Xperia TX. Very similar in design and specs, we recently reviewed the Xperia T, while we met the Xperia TX briefly at IFA in Berlin, Germany a couple of months back.

The biggest feature added in the new software update is Miracast sharing over Wifi -- a feature you might remember from the Nexus 4 and Android 4.2. This allows the phone to wirelessly mirror its screen onto a Miracast-compatible display over a Wifi network. However, as we've discovered during our tests with the Nexus 4, your network infrastructure, as well as your TV or monitor, will need to be Miracast-friendly.

The latest update also includes an optional extended standby function, which can disable data connections after a set period of time, while keeping text and call features working. Sony claims this can increase standby time by as much as four times, which could greatly increase battery life for those who switch it on. The Xperia T's mediocre battery life, you may remember, was something we highlighted in our review of the phone.

Other changes include some Sony app improvements, such as interface changes in the Movies and Walkman music apps. Check the source link below for the full list of differences.

Sony says the update will begin rolling out globally starting this week, so if you've already received it on your Xperia T or Xperia TX, be sure to shout out in the comments and let us know how you're getting on.

Arcane Legends review

Arcane Legends recently enjoyed a soft launch in Canada and Australia, bringing a fresh, colorful fantasy MMORPG to Android. The developer, Spacetime Studios, has a lot of experience in freemium mobile massively multiplayer online games, having kicked off the trend with Pocket Legends way back when, and since released other themed games such as Star Legends and Dark Legends. I've dabbled in those previously, but let me say right off the bat that Arcane Legends blows the others out of the water.

Mobile Nations Passport is now live!

Easily access all of Mobile Nations, all with one account! You can now also register and login via Facebook, Twitter, Google and Microsoft!

Your most-requested feature is finally here! Instead of having to maintain separate account logins and passwords for each and every one of our five communities -- Android Central, CrackBerry, iMore, Windows Phone Central and webOS Nation -- with Mobile Nations Passport you can now access all of your favorite sites with one easy login.

Now, don't worry! Even though we've unified our account management, we know and love the unique identities of each of our sites as much as you do, and we're not changing that. The power to control which sites you want your account to be associated with is still all in your hands -- we're making it easy, not automatic and certainly not mandatory. We're also maintaining your individual post history and forum profile on a site by site basis, so you get the recognition you deserve for each and every platform.

The video above will give you a quick, two-minute run-down of how Mobile Nations Passport works. Watch it, and then register or, for existing members, simply login to activate your Passport now!

Tablet options for kids, Droid DNA discussion [From the Forums]

Just in case you missed out on some of the Android news today, now is the time to go ahead and get yourself fully caught up. Here on the blogs and in the Android Central Forums there is plenty to talk about. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below to get started.

Motorola Photon Q receiving maintenance OTA

Sprint's leading hardware keyboard slider device from earlier this year, the Motorola Photon Q, is receiving a sizable maintenance OTA (Over The Air) update today. Software version 7.7.1Q-6_SPR-125_ASA-10 is bringing a whole host of enhancements and fixes to known bugs:

The support page notes that the update will be rolling out in stages, and all devices should have it within the next 14 days. To apply the update, make sure your device has a 50-percent or greater charge and Wifi or 4G (preferred) for downloading. Has your device received the update? Let the other users know in the forums.

Nyko releases PlayPad game controllers

Gamers get set, Nyko’s PlayPad and PlayPad Pro controllers are now on sale in North America.

Aimed at bringing console-style gaming to the increasingly powerful devices we have, the two PlayPad models hook up to Android devices via Bluetooth.

Additionally, Nyko provides an app called Playground that allows keyboard, mouse and touch event mapping. The controllers require Android 3.0 and up devices, although 4.0 is needed for the touch mapping.

The smaller PlayPad will come in black and white, with the larger, more ergonomic PlayPad Pro to come in black. The latter is a full-sized controller and swaps out its smaller sibling's dual analog sliders for analog sticks.

Data usage on the big four: T-Mobile and AT&T up, Verizon and Sprint down

A joint study by Fierce Wireless and NPD Connected Intelligence has been tracking data usage of Android (and now iOS) users across the big four carriers in the states. Shown above is the chart of the average data usage of the tracked users over the last 6 months. T-Mobile (after a short drop) and AT&T have both been trending upwards, while Verizon and Sprint (strikingly so) have been trending consistently downwards. Average usage in September was 1.09, 0.89, 0.57 and 0.68GB on T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, respectively.

T-Mobile offering unlimited data is enough to explain the increase in usage, and AT&T has started to move to generally data-friendly shared plans as well. It's interesting to see Verizon data usage going down considering its expansive rollout of LTE, but let's also remember nearly all recent Verizon phones have software built-in to force help users choose Wifi more often. Sprint as of late is well-known for extremely slow 3G data speeds -- and the LTE network isn't really there yet -- so it's not surprising to see data usage trending downwards on the Now Network.